[Elecraft] K3 - Steppir interfacing

[Bill Frantz]

The StepIR controller learns the frequency the radio is using by 
reading the RS-232 interface between the computer and the radio. 
It does not need to send data on that interface, so don't 
connect the transmit data line to protect the devices. RS-232 
interfaces can have only one device capable of transmitting. Two 
devices transmitting can damage the devices.

My StepIR controller won't work with the 38.4K data rate so I 
run my computer, the K3, and the P3 at 19.2K. Since I have the 
upgraded card in my K3 that supports CAT and sound over the same 
USB interface, I have to set the speed on the P3, the computer, 
and the StepIR controller to 19.2K.

You will also need a program running on your computer which 
regularly polls the radio for frequency information. Most 
logging programs will do this, but you can set the K3 to 
automatically send that information at regular intervals if such 
a program isn't running. The manual warns that some programs 
can't handle the frequency information if they didn't ask for 
it, but none of the Mac programs I run have that problem.

I use the N6TV Serial Box to connect all the pieces together, 
but a Y cable which doesn't connect out output data line from 
the StepIR controller should also work. Joe, W4TV sent you a 
diagram for such a cable.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 8/14/19 at 5:47 PM, rayalbers at gmail.com (Ray Albers) wrote:

>...
>
>Next - how to get the K3 to play with my SteppIR vertical antenna
>controller. Worked fine with my ICOM 746PRO, where I had both MixW and
>SteppIR autotracking working fine with the radio.
>
>So:  My computer is a Windows XP thing that I bought specifically because
>it has an actual RS232 (9 pin) serial interface, so no need to struggle
>with a serial to USB adapter.  I made up a Y cable to interconnect K3,
>SteppIR controller and computer. Lots of Googling told me that the
>connections to SteppIR controller should be only DTR and Gnd, so I made
>sure that was how it was wired. Other posts point out that the CONFIG
>AutoInf should be set to Auto1 (one post said it should be set to Norm, so
>I tried it both ways). I even tried setting K3, SteppIR and computer to a
>slower data rate (9600) in case the 38k rate was too fast. No joy. Did the
>obvious newbie stuff like turning things on and off, plugging and
>unplugging cables - still NG.

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